Navin Ramgoolam was officially sworn in as the Prime Minister of Mauritius on Wednesday, marking the beginning of his third term in office. This follows his impressive victory in the recent elections, where his opposition coalition, Alliance of Change, swept all 60 parliamentary seats, effectively ending the ruling coalition’s decade-long hold on power.
Ramgoolam, 77, addressed supporters after the ceremony in Port Louis, stating, “It was an incredible victory. My mission is to ensure that Mauritius remains a great place to live.” His Alliance of Change coalition secured 62.6% of the vote, leaving behind his predecessor Pravind Jugnauth’s Lepep Alliance, which garnered 27.8%. Ramgoolam will serve a five-year term.
Mauritius operates under a winner-takes-all electoral system, and with the Alliance of Change’s victory, they will control the majority of seats in the National Assembly. Additionally, two members from an independent party representing the island of Rodrigues will join them, while four other seats have been allocated through the “best losers” policy, bringing the total number of MPs to 66.
The election was overshadowed by a scandal involving wiretapping, where private phone conversations of politicians, diplomats, civil society members, and journalists were leaked online. The government initially imposed a social media ban in response, but public outcry forced them to lift the restriction within a day.
Despite Mauritius’ strong economy with a GDP per capita of around $10,000, analysts have raised concerns about growing governance issues, corruption, and the need for economic diversification.
Ramgoolam, a former doctor and lawyer, has previously served as prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014. He is the son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the first Prime Minister of Mauritius, who played a key role in the country’s independence from Britain in 1968.
